VANCOUVER — Seems like the right time to jump into the Calder Trophy conversation, which might begin and end with Avalanche MVP Gabriel Landeskog. The 19-year-old should win the NHL rookie-of-the-year award. He not only is the most complete player among rookies, he might be one of the league’s most complete players.

Landeskog leads the Avs with 78 games played, 22 goals, plus-20 rating, 258 shots, 207 hits and is first among forwards with 53 blocked shots. Among NHL rookies, he is first in shots and takeaways (56) and tied for first in goals (with PHI’s Matt Read), points (49 with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) and second in plus-minus (NYR’s Carl Hagelin is plus-22) and PPGs with six (BUF’s Cody Hodgson has seven).

Landeskog is the second rookie to produce 20 goals and 200 hits in the season (joining Dian Phaneuf of Calgary in 2005-06) and has the most shots as a rookie since Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby amassaed 426 and 278, respectively, in that same year.

“I try not to look at it as a distraction and take it as a compliment, obviously,” he said after this morning’s skate at Rogers Arena. “It’s a huge honor to even be in that race and the same sentence as the Calder Trophy and that group.”

Landy and centerman Ryan O’Reilly are tight buds. They joke nonstop in the locker room, with Landy typically ribbing the 21-year-old Factor for not playing dirty enough (grit and sandpaper, not cheap). I asked Factor if the Calder stuff is getting to Landy’s head, and he said: “He’s always had a big mellon … But no, he’s just confident, and that’s what we need.”

Landeskog, who leads all rookie forwards in total ice time (1,448:36) and is third overall, doesn’t have a big head. He offers a handshake to reporters that he hasn’t met and is mature beyond his years. Humble guy (wanted to write “humble kid,” but that’s not accurate).

Question is, who gets the “C” on their chest first — Landeskog or O’Reilly?

This is my opinion, of course, and I would certainly be ok with a number of options. But assuming Hejduk retires, my preference for captain/ alternate captains would be:

C: Factor

A: Landy
A: EJ, SOB (assuming he stays, which I hope he does)

Ttuccy

Landeskog pretty much my man crush.

C–Landeskog, let him grow into it
A-O’reilly
A-take away stastnys (i like the guy but he really doesnt seem like a great leader) and give it to O’brien

Mariechantal

Whether Landeskog wins or not the Calder Trophy, we can certainly see that we made a great pick.

SkiCopperMtn

If the Avs don’t make the playoffs he won’t. Especially with Matt Read (44 points) of the Flyers and Henrique (48 points) of the Devils just as worthy and having both of their EASTERN CONFERENCE teams in the playoffs.

Don’t forget that Nugent-Hopkins also has the same number of points as Landeskog and has played 22 less games and plays for a much worse club in Edmonton.

Landeskog might be the clear favorite in Denver, but he won’t be elsewhere unless the Avs make the postseason.

Smell the Glove

I don’t really care who wins the Calder or who they make captain or the alternates next year. I know it’s a fun thing for people to debate but I don’t really have a dog in this fight. I’d be happy for Landy if he won the award though.

BUT, he’s not just the clear favorite in Denver to win the Calder, and certainly Denver fans will be biased, but elsewhere around the league, on broadcasts and commentators and even talk radio Landeskog gets a ton of picks to be the Calder. I listen to a lot of the other team broadcasts and it’s quite common for those guys to say he’s the favorite to win it too. The hockey channel on XM satellite radio has a lot of guys that come on that think he’s a lock for the award too. TSN certainly gives him plenty of credit as well.

Maybe none of that has any bearing on whether or not he’ll win it, helping your team get into the playoffs certainly should count for something I agree, but this isn’t just a Denver thing. Many folks who aren’t Avalanche fans are calling for Landy to win the award.

Anonymous

well it is the sports writers if im not mistaken that votes on it, so if he’s gettin all that attention, then theres a real good chance he gets it.

Anonymous

you make a good argument and unfortunately I think your right as far as who wins it. Further proves that the voting for this trophy and many others for that matter are bullshat. The calder is for best rookie, and clearly, points aside, Landy is the best rookie this year. Ive said it before all of this Calder talk started, half way through the season Landy has been the most complete player amongst the rooks this season, and another half season later, he is still the most complete rook this year. But alas, that doesnt matter, because the calder is slang for ” most points/more publicized/flashier player” trophy.

Luke Waggoner

If you say that Landy won’t win it unless the Avs make the playoffs, then Nugent-Hopkins shouldn’t even be in the discussion for the Calder. Oh, and the fact that he’s played 22 less games really makes his chances worse. Part of being a good player is being reliable. Playing 22 less games because you’re a twig is not a good thing.

And the points obviously don’t choose who wins. If it did, Duchene would’ve won it his rookie year. But no, they chose a D-man who was a more complete player and was more valuable to his team. That is Landy to a T. He is the most complete rookie in years, and in my estimation, will win the Calder regardless of what happens from here out. I don’t believe that the voting takes playoff performance into account. Regular Season only. I could be wrong about that though.

evan

Your so-called “most complete player” has faded down the most important stretch of the season and has been virtually invisible the last few games when his team needed him to step up the most.

Where was he against the Sharks? Oh, a meaningless secondary assist that had nothing to do with the resulting goal? Where was he against Vancouver?

Calder trophy my keister….

Luke Waggoner

Who’s your team? It obviously isn’t the Avs. Let’s have a true, adult discussion about the merits of your team VS. The Avs.

Faded? 6 points and 4 goals in his last 9 games? Including 2 game-winners? One against Henrik Lundqvist? Again, who is your team? We’ll pit your best player against our best ROOKIE and see who comes out on top in umm…every category most likely?

Comment like a man or don’t bother at all…

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715887627 Per Akkamaan Agesson

Landeskog is one of the most complete players in the league, easy a top power forward. I would also say that he is the, for the future, the best “C” mtrl in the Avs. I think he should be the next “C” in Avs. Locked up for the entire career. And I think that’s whats going to happen too.

The St. Louis Blues

Once again –

We’ll take the playoffs. You can have your meaningless Calder. It’s an individual award.

And if anyone thinks Landeskog wouldn’t trade a Calder for a playoff spot this season, you’re nuts.

Oh, and thanks again for Shatty, Stewie, and Elliott.

Cody

Hey man how many cups?

K22above

Funny how you seem to act as if the Blues are some kind of historically elite organization that’s actually done something over the years (e.g. Montreal, Detroit, Boston, etc…), while in reality, the Blues haven’t won squat since their inception in 1967. That’s 45 years of futility buddy.

Word of advice to you as well—-the regular season ain’t the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if your new found love & devotion to the Blues has a disappointing ending this post-season. Upsets happen all the time.

Luke Waggoner

Umm…You can have Shatty, Stewie, and Elliot. We’ve got Johnson (See Avs best Defenseman in the latter half of the season), Landy (22-27-49 VS Stewie’s 15-13-28, 4x Stewie’s +/-…And really beating Stewie in every category. Oh, and he’s a rookie. Just watch him in a year or two. Oh, and he’ll almost certainly win the Calder), and Varly (And I’ll let his play speak for itself. And please, don’t give me a bunch of crap about Elliott. Varly in his last half has outplayed Elliot in every category except SO, which really isn’t a team stat. It’s an individual stat. Kinda like the Calder).

We’ll be just fine. Stewie? Please. We can get his stats out of the first 7 guys on our team.

Shatty? I don’t care if he’s the best thing since sliced bread. Player character is what matters. In other words, not Shatty.

evan

Shutouts are a team effort you idiot.

Heatherplatts

Landy is a class act! We were at the Phoenix game from Idaho and my 8 year old held up a sign for him during warm-up. He threw a puck over the boards for her. She is still buzzing about it! Huge game and he still took the time! Thanks Landy!

guest

too late for the av bandwagon post
they’re done

why don’t you run another tebow article

rocky mt news was way better

Guest

Landeskog is eventually going to tussle with the wrong guy in the NHL and is going to pay for it by getting knocked out cold in a fight, or is going to get run Bertuzzi-like. He’s way too cocky and arrogant and he plays dirty. Some day he’s going to pi$$ off the wrong guy.

ard8

Wow, the end of the season really brings out the trolls. Our Blues troll is back along with an “arrogant Landy” (LOL) troll and even a Rocky Mountain News troll. Yikes people, get lives!

Oh, and you’re a pretty poor excuse for a hockey fan when you’re predicting injury for any player. Sad, pathetic stuff.

Here’s my worthless predictions: The RMN is still gone, Landy will be a star for many years and the Blues will not win their last game this season.

Luke Waggoner

For Captain, I’ve gotta actually go with Giggy. The Captain isn’t just the hardest working guy on the team. He also needs to have the respect from having been around for a while. That’s why I thought Toews was named captain too early in Chicago. But yeah, Giggy. He’s been an amazing leader, and is a total veteran and will smash some heads together if he needs to. For alternates, I’ve gotta go with Landy and Factor.

C – Giggy
A – O’Reilly
A – Landy

Once Giggy leaves or retires, go with Factor or Landy as Captain, depending on who deserves it more in the following years, and then for the A’s go with whichever of Landy and Factor don’t get the C, and EJ. I really think EJ is going to be the D-man that we thought he was going to be. He’s been playing amazing lately.

Anonymous

It’s hard for a goalie to get the C, they usually need to be on ice and has to talk to the refs. I think it caused a lot of problems when Luongo has the C. I think he relied on the A’s to do the talking. I think Jiggy is a leader enough and doesn’t even need the “C”.

jimbo

Did you just suggest a goalie as the captain? It’s actually against the rules. The only time it’s happened lately (or since the days before goalies wore masks, as far as I know) was Luongo’s short stint as an “honorary” captain; the Canucks had to designate a “real” captain and Luongo really just got to sew a C on his jersey. I would bet pretty much everything I own that Gigurere will not be the Avs’ next captain, it’s a truly lame idea.

Michelbisson01

Landy is to young to have this responsability.Same thing for O’ reilly.

Ramon

Long term Landy, Radar or EJ should get the C.

Meanwhile Jiggy should be the Captain. Actually he is our captain already! A true veteran!

Landy is a little bit young, but he is just leading by example. This guy is incredible! Every time i think of the Avs now, i think of Landy. Amazing. Great great pick!

I like those kind of players. Sakic was also leading by example.

My vote would be Landy, but Radar and EJ would be great captains too!

Bboswellantiques

I live in New Hampshire and have center ice. I listen to alot of games,watch cbc and tsn on our cable system. Landeskog is the talk of the NHL out here. The comment that most echoed my thoughts, “This kid plays like Peter Foresberg” Ain’t it the truth. Fearless, strong on the puck, fore check, back check, kudos to the Av’s for this pick.Landeskog will be lifting the cup in his future several times I suspect.

Kevinng

The Nuge will win! He missed 20 games to injury and same points as Gabriel. The Nuge is the “complete” package as he overcame adversity and lit the leauge up……

steve landeskog

I have season tickets were Landy played his Jr. hockey. He is an unreal leader. No question in my mind he wil be the captain of the Avs. His leadership is still recognizable in kitchener. He is a total overall package. Nuge is more talented offensively, but you cant have him play in any situation. Gabe is a class act of a pro hockey player. If he wins the calder, it will be back to back wins for kichener (jeff skinner). Just wish my leafs had a solid 2 way player like gabe.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.